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Mercyhurst University

Coordinates: 42°06′19″N 80°03′13″W / 42.10520°N 80.05373°W / 42.10520; -80.05373
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"Mercyhurst" redirects here. For other uses, see Mercyhurst (disambiguation).

Mercyhurst University
Former names
Mercyhurst College
(1926–2012)[1]
MottoLatin: Carpe diem
(Seize the day)
TypePrivate university
Established1926; 99 years ago (1926)
AccreditationMSCHE
Religious affiliation
Roman Catholic (Sisters of Mercy)
Academic affiliations
Conference for Mercy Higher Education
ACCU
NAICU
EndowmentUS$31.8 million[2]
PresidentKathleen Getz[3]
Academic staff
136 full-time
Administrative staff
434
Students2,759[4]
Location
Erie
,
Pennsylvania
,
U.S.
CampusUrban, 74 acres (30 hectares)
Colors   Blue, green, & white
NicknameLakers
Sporting affiliations
NCAA Division I – NEC
MascotLuke the Laker
Websitemercyhurst.edu
Map

Mercyhurst University is a private Catholic university in Erie, Pennsylvania, United States.[citation needed]

History

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On September 20, 1926 (99 years ago) (1926-09-20), Mercyhurst College opened its doors just a few blocks away from the city's southern boundary. It was founded by the Sisters of Mercy of the Diocese of Erie, who were led by Borgia Egan, who became the first president of Mercyhurst College.[5]

On October 5, 1928, two years later, the college received its charter.[5]

In 1963, the college prep department separated from the university to form Mercyhurst Preparatory School, which is located behind the university.[5]

On February 3, 1969, the board of trustees voted to make Mercyhurst a coed college.[5]

From its foundation in 1926 until 1972, members of the Sisters of Mercy had been presidents of the college. After 1972, lay presidents led the college.[5]

On March 27, 1991, Mercyhurst purchased the 100-year-old Redemptorist Seminary in North East and turned it into a branch campus, offering associate degrees and one-year certificates.[5]

Among its five campuses, enrollment has grown to over 4,000 students instructed by 168 faculty. The endowment has increased to more than US$20 million and its budget is more than US$85 million.[5]

In February 1996, the Mary D'Angelo Performing Arts Center opened.[5]

In fall 2002, the $7.5 million Audrey Hirt Academic Center opened on the southeast edge of campus, a building funded largely through the college's $22.8 million capital campaign.[5]

In August 2005, the $5 million Michele and Tom Ridge Health and Safety Building was dedicated at Mercyhurst North East. A $1.3 million residential apartment complex also opened in time for the North East campus' academic year.[5]

Also in 2005, the board of trustees authorized the purchase of 400 acres (160 hectares) in Girard as the first step towards developing Mercyhurst West, a two-year college serving western Erie County, northwestern Crawford County and northeastern Ohio.[5]

In 2006, the board of trustees elected Thomas J. Gamble as the 11th president of Mercyhurst College. Gamble, who previously served as vice president of academic affairs at the college, assumed the presidency March 1, 2006.[5]

In fall 2008, the construction of the Frances Warde Hall began. The US$14 million freshman residence hall opened in the fall of 2009. The 100,000-square-foot (9,300 m2) building houses 318 students.[5]

The main entrance gate on E 38th St. with Old Main in the background.

On January 25, 2012, Mercyhurst College officially became Mercyhurst University.[6]

In September 2012, the Center for Academic Engagement opened, a four-story, 31,000-square-foot (2,900 m2) building that is set into a rolling hill north of Hammermill Library and features a skywalk over East Main Drive to connect the two facilities. The building, which boasts many green technologies, houses classrooms and lab space for two of Mercyhurst's signature programs &emdash; Intelligence Studies and Hospitality Management &emdash; as well as the Evelyn Lincoln Institute for Ethics and Society and the Mercyhurst Center for Applied Politics (MCAP).[5]

On May 19, 2015, the Board of Trustees of Mercyhurst University appointed Michael T. Victor as the 12th president of Mercyhurst University. Victor had served as president of Lake Erie College since 2006. Victor served as dean of the Walker School of Business at Mercyhurst from 2002 to 2006. He took office on August 3, 2015.[citation needed]

On August 16, 2018, Mercyhurst University opened a US$25 million residence hall. Ryan Hall houses more than 350 student suites.[7] It also includes a dining hall, lounge area, convenience store, and a 150-seat banquet hall.[8]

Sexual assault allegations (2004)

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On October 10, 2004, the Erie Times-News published a story stating that former president William Garvey molested grade school boys while serving as a basketball coach at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Erie. The article further stated that "two current Erie residents told the Erie Times-News that Garvey paid them to have sex with him in the early to mid-1980s, when both men were minors".[9]

On December 17, 2004, the paper reported that Garvey "abruptly announced his retirement Thursday, months before the completion of a college-ordered investigation Garvey had predicted would exonerate him".[10]

A few months after Garvey retired, an investigation conducted by retired Erie County Judge Michael Palmisano, at the instruction of the board of trustees, determined that the allegations against Garvey "appear[ed] to have merit".[11]

The campus' central park was once named "Garvey Park" in honor of Garvey, but following the allegations, it was renamed to "Trinity Green".[12]

Campus

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The university formerly had a branch campus located 18 miles (29 km) away in North East, Pennsylvania at the site of the former St. Mary's Seminary.[13] It offered associate degrees but was closed at the end of the 2020–2021 academic year.[14]

The university has also operated[when?] Mercyhurst Corry, a school offering an associate degree in business administration, for over 25 years.[citation needed]

The university's fifth campus, Mercyhurst West, was located in Girard, Pennsylvania, at the site of the former Faith Lutheran Church. Classes began at this location in fall 2006.[15] Due to low enrollment, the campus closed at the end of the 2013–2014 school year.[16]

Academics

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Enrollment at Mercyhurst University's Erie campus is nearly 4,500 students. The university was formerly[when?] on a trimester calendar, but moved to a 4–1–4 calendar for the 2013–2014 school year. Currently,[when?] the university is on a traditional semester calendar.[17]

The university has more than 57 undergraduate degrees, and almost 25 percent of the student body chooses to study abroad.[18][19]

Undergraduate students at Mercyhurst all complete the REACH curriculum, which stands for Reason and Faith, Expression and Creativity, Analytical Thought, Contexts and Systems, and Humans in Connection.[20]

The university is organized into four colleges:

  • The Hafenmaier College of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences
  • The Walker College of Business
  • The Zurn College of Natural and Health Sciences
  • The Ridge College of Intelligence Studies & Applied Sciences

Athletics

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See also: Mercyhurst Lakers

Mercyhurst University competes in the Northeast Conference for most of their D1 sports since the 2024/2025 season.[21]

Men's and women's ice hockey compete in Atlantic Hockey America and water polo competes in the Collegiate Water Polo Association.[citation needed]

Around 15 percent of the student body consists of student-athletes.[citation needed]

National championships

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  • 1976: Men's tennis – NAIA
  • 2004: Women's rowing (team champion) – NCAA Division II
  • 2005: Men's rowing (4+ open) – ECAC National Champion
  • 2009: Josh Shields (165 lbs), wrestling – NCAA Division II
  • 2010: Women's rowing (8+ champion) – NCAA Division II
  • 2011: Men's lacrosse – NCAA Division II
  • 2016: Men's Lightweight Rowing: Dad Vail Champions (Lightweight 8+)
  • 2021: Women’s rowing: Dad Vail Champions (8+ open)
  • 2021: Women’s rowing: Dad Vail Champions (4+ open)
  • 2022: Women rowing: Dad Vail Champions (8+ open)
  • 2022: Women’s rowing (8+ open Champion) - NCAA Division II
  • 2022: Women’s rowing (4+ open Champion) - NCAA Division II
  • 2022: Women’s rowing (team champion) - NCAA Division II

Non-varsity sports

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American Collegiate Hockey Association (ACHA) – Divisions I and III

Partnership in Ireland

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Dungarvan in Ireland is the sister city of Erie.[22]

MU ran several Global Intelligence Forum in Dungarvan during the 2010s.[23][24][25]

Each spring, MU students and faculty spend a term in Dungarvan as part of MU’s Study Abroad scheme.[26]

MU has established its first international base in Dungarvan; the base includes MU's European Centre for Intelligence Research, Analytics and Training.[27]

Alumni

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Our History". mercyhurst.edu. Mercyhurst University. Retrieved 2022-12-01.
  2. ^ As of October 30, 2013. "U.S. and Canadian Institutions Listed by Fiscal Year 2009 Endowment Market Value and Percentage Change in Endowment Market Value from FY 2008 to FY 2009" (PDF). 2009 NACUBO-Commonfund Study of Endowments. National Association of College and University Business Officers. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2017-12-14. Retrieved 2010-02-09.
  3. ^ "Mercyhurst University names Kathleen Getz 13th president". Mercyhurst University (Press release). 2021-05-11. Retrieved 2021-08-05.
  4. ^ "College Navigator – Mercyhurst University".
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n "History | Mercyhurst University". Mercyhurst.edu. Retrieved 2015-08-07.
  6. ^ McCracken, Sean (2012-01-26). "Former Mercyhurst College now Mercyhurst University". Erie Times-News. Retrieved 2012-01-26.
  7. ^ "Mercyhurst University Officially Opens Ryan Hall". Erie News Now. 2018-08-16. Archived from the original on 2019-04-22.
  8. ^ "Mercyhurst dedicates Ryan Hall Aug. 16". Mercyhurst University.
  9. ^ Palattella, Ed (2004-10-10). "Garvey Past Questioned". Erie Times-News. Archived from the original on 2013-10-29. Retrieved 2012-10-24.
  10. ^ Palattella, Ed (2004-12-17). "Garvey to Retire". Erie Times-News. Archived from the original on 2013-05-31. Retrieved 2012-10-24.
  11. ^ Palattella, Ed (2005-08-21). "Garvey's accusers say memo is 'vindication'". Erie Times-News. Archived from the original on 2013-05-31. Retrieved 2012-10-24.
  12. ^ "Mercyhurst College Map" (PDF). Mercyhurst College. 2010-03-10. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-05-08. Mercyhurst College. Find More.
  13. ^ "Mercyhurst North East | A two-year college". Northeast.mercyhurst.edu. Retrieved 2015-08-07.
  14. ^ Rink, Matthew (2021-05-14). "Mercyhurst moves up North East campus move - News". GoErie.com. Erie, PA. Archived from the original on 2021-05-14. Retrieved 2024-11-07.
  15. ^ "About West | Mercyhurst College - West Campus". Archived from the original on 2009-02-27. Retrieved 2009-05-01.
  16. ^ "Mercyhurst University closing branch 'west' campus in Girard due to low enrollment - Daily Journal". www.dailyjournal.net. Archived from the original on 2013-11-21. Retrieved 2022-02-02.
  17. ^ "News". mercyhurst.edu. Retrieved 2015-08-07.
  18. ^ "Fast Facts". Mercyhurst University.
  19. ^ "Academics". Mercyhurst University.
  20. ^ "REACH Curriculum". mercyhurst.edu. Retrieved 2020-04-23.
  21. ^ "Division I | Mercyhurst". www.mercyhurst.edu. Retrieved 2025-08-16.
  22. ^ "Sister Cities". City of Erie. Retrieved 2024-12-12.
  23. ^ Pogatchnik, Shawn (2010-07-14). "Ridge mulls challenges of targeting terrorists". The Washington Times. Associated Press. Retrieved 2013-09-13.
  24. ^ "Global Intelligence Forum to meet in Ireland". TechCentral Ireland. 2015-06-23. Retrieved 2024-12-12.
  25. ^ "Comissioner O'Sullivan Addresses Global Intelligence Forum on "New Reality" of Terrorism". Garda Post. 2015-07-29. Retrieved 2024-12-12.
  26. ^ "Study Abroad". Mercyhurst University. Retrieved 2024-12-12.
  27. ^ "US university spreads its wings to Waterford campus". Irish Examiner. 2012-03-26. Retrieved 2024-10-10.
  28. ^ "Matthew Hatchette Past Stats, Statistics, History, and Awards". databaseFootball.com. 1974-01-05. Archived from the original on 2015-03-19. Retrieved 2015-08-07.

Bibliography

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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Mercyhurst University.

42°06′19″N 80°03′13″W / 42.10520°N 80.05373°W / 42.10520; -80.05373

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